Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): What to Watch For and What to Do

UTIs are common and often annoying, but most clear up fast with the right care. If you feel burning when you pee, need to go all the time, or notice cloudy or foul-smelling urine, don’t ignore it. Those are the classic red flags that tell you a bladder infection might be starting.

A UTI happens when bacteria get into the urinary tract — usually the urethra and bladder. Women get UTIs more often because their urethra is shorter. Men, older adults, pregnant people, and anyone with a catheter or certain health conditions can also get UTIs, and their signs or risks can be different.

Symptoms to look for

Common symptoms include a burning sensation during urination, frequent small amounts of urine, urgency, cloudy or bloody urine, and lower belly pressure. If the infection reaches the kidneys you might get fever, chills, side or back pain, nausea, or vomiting. Kidney infections are more serious and need prompt medical attention.

How doctors diagnose a UTI

Your clinician will usually start with a quick urine dipstick or a urine sample for testing. A urine culture confirms which bacteria are causing the infection and which antibiotics will work best. If you have repeated infections, imaging or referral to a specialist may be needed to check for structural issues.

Treatment is straightforward in most cases. For simple bladder infections, doctors prescribe a short course of antibiotics tailored to the likely bacteria and local resistance patterns. Pain relievers and plenty of fluids help too. Always finish the full antibiotic course unless told otherwise — stopping early can let the infection come back and encourage resistance.

For kidney infections, severe symptoms, or high-risk patients (like pregnant people), treatment may require longer antibiotics or even IV therapy in hospital. If you get UTIs often, your doctor might suggest preventive measures like low-dose antibiotics, post-sex dosing, or non-antibiotic options such as methenamine or vaginal estrogen for some women.

Simple prevention steps make a big difference. Drink water regularly to flush bacteria out. Urinate after sex. Wipe front to back. Avoid irritating feminine products and tight synthetic underwear. Cranberry products can help some people, though effects are modest. Probiotics and good blood sugar control in diabetes also lower risk.

Know when to see help: high fever, severe back pain, vomiting, confusion (especially in older adults), or symptoms that worsen after starting treatment. Also seek care if you’re pregnant or have a urinary catheter. Recurrent UTIs deserve follow-up so your provider can look for underlying causes and discuss tailored prevention.

If you suspect a UTI, don’t wait it out for days. Early testing and the right antibiotic usually stop symptoms fast and prevent complications. If you want, use our site search to find clear articles on antibiotics, prevention tips, and when to get urgent care.